Drive for glass-forming machines



June 18, 1968 F. 2. FOUSE DRIVE FOR GLASS-FORMING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 w W Z 3 5 4 INVENTOR. E 2- F0054" BYJune 18, 1968 2, FOUSE 3,388,985

DRIVE FOR GLASS-FORMING MACHINES Filed Jan. 28, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o7 :57 g 3 n J 65 7| June 1968 F. 2. FOUSE 3,388,985

DRIVE FOR GLASS-FORMING MACHINES Filed Jan. 28, 1965 3 SheetsrSheet 5lnnw i INVENTOR. Fame/bx Z. Fousc Ari-awr United States Patent 03,338,985 DRIVE FOR GLASS-FORMING MACHINES Frederick Z. iFousc,Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation,Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 28, 1965', Ser.No. 428,638 3 Claims. {63. 65-361) ABSTRACT 6ft THE DISCLOSURE A driveand control system for independently regulating the indexing anddwelling times of the mold table in a glass-forming machine as well asachieving rapid indexing movement, fiuid braking and overload driveprotection. The system comprises a hydraulic motor which operates themechanical indexing drive for the table and has valving in the motorcontrol system for protectively limiting line pressure and trappingfluid in the motor for fluid braking. A sequentially operated air valveinitiates the indexing action by opening an hydraulic valve whichcontrols fluid flow to the hydraulic motor. Operation of the motorindexes the table through a Geneva drive. A timing wheel geared to thedrive actuates another air valve for closing the hydraulic motor valveat the end of the indexing cycle thereby stopping the drive. The closingof the motor valve actuates a down-stream valve trapping fluid in themotor and thus giving controlled fluid braking. A relief valve isprovided upstream from re pump which bypasses fluid to the reservoirwhen the motor is stopped by the control valve or an overload. Thesequentially operated air valve again begins the operating cycle.

The present invention relates to glass-forming machines and moreparticularly to a new and improved drive and control arrangement forintermittently advancing the table of a glass-forming machine betweenglass-forming stations.

Glass-forming machines receive molten charges of glass, which are knownas gobs, from a glass melting furnace and transform the molten glassgobs into finished articles such as tumblers. in forming the glass themachine ad vances the gob through a series of stations where individualglassforming operations are performed on the gob. The initial step inthe glass-forming operation involves depositing a molten glass gob intoa mold which is located on the working surface or the table of theglassforming machine. In subsequent steps, the glass gob is pressed intoa finished article such as a tumbler. In other forming machines theglass gob is formed into a blank or parison and then transferred to aglass blowing machine to be blown into a bottle or jar.

In carrying out the glass-forming steps, it is necessary that the moltenglass charge be advanced quickly between stations in order to increaseits productivity of the glass-forming machine. In addition, the moltenglass charge must be positioned with considerable accuracy at eachstation in order to properly perform the glass-forming operation. Forexample, in receiving the glass gob the mold must be accuratelypositioned so that the gob does not contac the sides of the mold.Further, the mold must be advanced to register accurately with theplunger which presses the gob into a finished article or a parison.

The present invention satisfies these requirements and has for one ofits objects to provide a new and improved drive mechanism forglass-forming machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control systemfor quickly and accurately positioning the glass-forming molds of themachine during its operation.

A further object of the present invention is to minimize transition timeof the glass-forming machine in carrying glass gobs betweenglass-forming stations.

Another object of the present invention is to' provide a drivearrangement and control system which will stop in the event overloadconditions are encountered.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially broken away from thepreferred embodiment of the glass-forming machine according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the driving mechanism takenalong lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view of a portion of the drive mechanismtaken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the preferred drive and controlcomponents used in connection with the glass-forming machine of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a timing mechanism for controllingthe glass-forming machine operation and which corresponds to the lowerleft-hand side of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred drive andcontrol arrangement of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a glassforming machinewhich may be used with the present invention. By way of illustration,the present invention will be described in connection with a machine forforming pressed glassware such as tumblers. The machine 1 shown in FIG.1 comprises a working surface or table 2 having a number of molds 3,preferably sixteen, for forming glass. The table 2 rotates in sequenceto sixteen stations for glass-forming and cooling operations. Statedsimply the glass-forming operation involves delivery of a glass gob 4 tothe mold 3 and advancing the mold for pressing by means of a plunger(not shown) into the desired shape. Next the glass in the mold is cooledand removed from the mold. Finally the molds progress through severalcooling stations before repeating the cycle.

The working table 2 of the glass-forming machine illustrated in FIG. 1is supported for rotation near the lower end of a hollow central column5 by means of a suitable bearing 6. The hollow column at its lower endis secured to a base plate 7 by means of a suitable bolt 8. The baseplate may be mounted on wheels 10 for convenient positioning of theglass machine near a forehearth of a glass furnace (not shown).

At its upper end, the central column 5 supports a superstructure 11 uponwhich a preferred drive unit 12 and control mechanism 14 are mounted.Conveniently a number of rigid stays 15 may be used in providingadditional support for the superstructure 11. If desired, the hollowcentral column 5 may communicate with a plenum chamber 16 fordistributing compressed air for cooling various parts of theglass-forming machine.

In carrying out the glass-forming operations, the table 2 must bestopped or indexed at each of the glass-forming stations. This indexingis accomplished by rotating the table intermittently through theintermediation of the hydraulic drive unit 12 and a Geneva mechanism 17.The hydraulic drive unit 12 (FIG. 1) includes a hydraulic pump 18 and ahydraulic motor 20.

The hydraulic motor drives the Geneva mechanism 17 through theintermediation of a vertical drive shaft 21 and bevel gears 22 and 24.As best shown in FIG. 2 the bevel gear 24 is mounted at one end of astub shaft 25 located within a gear housing 26. The stub shaft 25,mounted on suitable bearings 27 and 28, includes a worm 30 for driving awheel 31 mounted on the Geneva mechanism 17 by suitable means such as abolt 32 (FIG. 3).

As is well-known in the art, Geneva mechanisms convert a continuousrotary motion to an intermittent or stop and go rotation. The Genevamechanism 17 shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a crank 34 and a gear35. The crank 34 rotates on a shaft 36 and includes a pin 37 whichengages radial slots on the gear 35. While the pin 37 is in a slot 38the gear rotates. The result is intermittent rotation of the gear as thecrank continuously rotates.

As shown in FIG. 1 the Geneva gear 35, located in a recess portion 46 ofthe base 7, is mounted for rotation on the central hollow column 5. Atits upper end the Geneva gear engages a flange 41 near the hub 42 of therotating table. It will be appreciated then that as the hydraulic motor20 rotates, an intermittent rotary movement is transmitted to the table2 of the glass-forming machine. In this manner the table is indexed toeach of the glass-forming stations present in the machine.

For a better appreciation of the driving unit 12 and control mechanisms14 about to be described it is necessary to understand the nature of themovement of the working table as it advances from station to station incarrying out the glass forming operation. First, the control mechanismactuates the drive unit for advancing or indexing the working table toits next station. Then the control unit in cooperation with the driveunit provides for positive and accurate stopping of the table at aforming station. Next the control mechanism turns off the driving unitso that the table dwells at the station fora predetermined period,usually rom one to six seconds. After the dwell portion of the cycle thedrive unit is again actuated and the table is advanced to the nextstation to continue the glass-forming operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the hydraulic drive unit 12 for rotating thetable will be described. The hydraulic drive unit 12 comprises ahydraulic pump 18 for supplying pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor20 shown at the left in FIG. 4. Typically, the hydraulic pump 18 may bea variable volume piston pump with a hand wheel 45 for controllingoutput pressure as is well-known in the art. Driven by a suitableelectric motor 46, the hydraulic pump 45 takes fluid suction from areservoir 47 at a suction connection 48. The pump delivers the oilthrough a relief valve 50 to an oil manifold 51 through line 52. In theevent the hydraulic pressure becomes excessive as when the tableencounters an immovable object, such as a malfunctioning glass formingplunger (not shown), the relief valve 50 will return the pressurizedfluid to the reservoir 47 through a suitable line 53. Under normalconditions, the pressurized fluid passes through a hydraulic operatingvalve 54 which controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulicmotor 20. The hydraulic control valve 54 is pneumatically actuated forturning the flow of hydraulic fluid on and off. Such valves arewell-known and need not be described in detail.

If desired, a hand operating valve 55 may be included for adjusting theposition of the table. In returning from the hydraulic motor 20 to thereservoir 47, the fluid passes through the hydraulic control valve 54and a back pressure relief valve 56. Before entering the reservoir 47the return oil passes through an oil cooler 57 mounted on the side ofthe oil reservoir 47.

The present invention provides a control system 14 for regulating theoperation of the hydraulic drive unit 12 in accomplishing the tablemovement described above. Preferably, the control mechanism 14 comprisesa bank of air pufl valves 60 rotated by a suitable motor 61 andtransmission 62. The air puff valves 60 are set in timed relation toeach other in synchronizing the various steps of the glass-formingoperation. In starting the working table toward its next station, one ofthe air puff valves 64 opens the hydraulic control valve 54 usingcompressed air. Pressurized fluid from the pump 18 enters the hydraulicmotor 20 and the motor 20 moves the working table 2 to its next stationby means of the Geneva mechanism described above.

When the table arrives at the next station it pauses or dwells longenough for the forming operation. The pause occurs when the hydraulicmotor 20 is stopped by means of a timing Wheel 65 shown at the left ofFIG. 4.

The timing wheel 65 as best shown in FIG. 2 is rotated by means of alower extension 66 (FIG. 3) of the vertical drive shaft 21. Theextension 66 includes a worm 67 meshing with a wheel 68 for rotating thetiming wheel 65.

The timing wheel 65 rotates in timed relationship with the Genevamechanism 17 and as the Geneva mechanism 17 positions the table at thenext station one of the cams 70 and 71 (FIG. 5) on the timing wheel 65contacts a stop air puff valve 72. The stop air puff valve 72 closes thepneumatic hydraulic control valve 54 (FIG. 4) for turning off thehydraulic motor 20 for the dwell phase of the cycle. After dwelling, thetable advances as the start air puff valve 64 returns to its originalposition for repeating the cycle.

It will be understood that the gear ratios of the table drivingmechanism (FIG. 2) are such that the timing wheel 65 rotates as theGeneva crank 34 rotates 360 or as the working table advances from onestation to the next. If desired, one of the cams can be removed from thetiming wheel in order to advance the working table two stations insteadof one. This arrangement may be desirable in certain glass-formingoperations as in pressing large glassware items like salad bowls.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the operation of the glassforming machine willbe described. In advancing the glassforming table 2 from station A tostation B in order to receive a molten gob of glass 4, the start airpuff valve 64 opens the hydraulic control valve 54 so that hydraulicfluid under pressure from pump 18 turns the hydraulic motor 20. Thehydraulic motor 20 then advances the table 2 to station B through theintermediation of the Geneva drive 17. When the table 2 is indexed atstation B the table pauses or dwells for a short period to receive theglass gob. The pause occurs when the hydraulic motor 20 is stopped. Themotor 20 is stopped as timing wheel 65 and the air puff valve cooperateto close the hydraulic control valve 54.

To prevent the inertia of the rotating table from carrying it beyondstation B, back pressure relief valve 56 in the hydraulic system closesand cooperates with the closed control valve 54 to trap oil in thepistons in the hydraulic motor 20. The back pressure relief valve 56closes due to lower pressure when the control valve 54 closes. Thisaction brakes the hydraulic motor 20' and provides for an instant andaccurate stopping of the working table at each glass-forming station.

After pausing, the table 2 is indexed to the next station as start airpuff valve 64 returns to its original position for starting the motor20.

It will be appreciated that when control valve 54 is closed, pressurizedfluid from the constantly operating pump 18 is returned to the reservoir47 through the relief valve 50. In order to provide a faster drive ofthe hydraulic table between stations, it is simply necessary to increasethe pressure of the hydraulic fluid leaving the hydraulic pump 18. Thiscan be accomplished by an adjustment in the hand wheel control 45 and byresetting the pressure relief valve 50 (FIG. 2) as is well-known in theart. I

It will be seen that applicant has provided an effective drivingmechanism for glass-forming machines which quickly drives the workingtable from station to station to minimize the period of transition. Inaddition the drive 3 system is safe, and can easily Withstand overloadconditions without break-down. Moreover, the valves of the hydraulicsystem provide effective braking of the hydraulic motor so as toaccurately stop the working table as it arrives at the operatingstations.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein without departing rom the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a glass-forming machine having a rotatably mounted mold table forsupporting a plurality of spaced molds and for presenting the moldssuccessively to glassforming stations by intermittent rotary motion ofthe mold table, an improved mold table drive means cornprising thecombination of a Geneva drive means having its output shaft operativelycoupled to the mold table for providing the intermittent mold tablemovement, a hydraulically powered drive motor, means operativelycoupling the output shaft of the drive motor to the input crank of theGeneva drive means, means for continuously supplying hydraulic drivefluid under pressure to the drive motor, a drive motor control valve forsaid fluid supplying means for stopping and starting the drive motor,motor start valve control means coupled to said drive motor controlvalve for periodically opening said drive motor control valve to startthe drive motor at predetermined intervals, motor stop control meansoperatively coupled to the drive motor output shaft and connected tosaid drive motor control valve for closing said drive motor controlvalve responsive to a predetermined movement of the drive motor outputshaft, a hydraulic pressure relief valve connected in series with thedrive motor control valve and said fluid supplying means, a hydraulicfluid outlet for said drive motor, and a pressure relief valve connectedin said fluid outlet whereby said drive motor is partially braked byfluid pressure created by said relief valve when said drive motorcontrol valve is closed.

2. The glass-forming machine as claimed in claim 1 which furthercomprises a plurality of air puff valves and means for operating them intimed relation, said drive motor control valve comprising an airoperated valve, and said motor start valve control means comprising oneof said air putf valves.

3. The glass-forming machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said drivemotor control valve comprises an air operated valve, said motor stopvalve control means comprises an air puff valve and the coupling betweensaid motor stop valve control means and said drive motor output shaftcomprises a cam operatively coupled to the drive motor output shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,878,485 9/1932 Ganter 1632,010,777 8/1935 Grotta 65-164 2,146,482 2/1939 Miller 65159 2,284,5085/1942 Bert 65-361 2,958,159 11/1960 Denman 65-159 DONALL H. SYLVESTER,Primary Examiner.

FRANK W. MIGA, Examiner.

